Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-25
RETURN OF THE GYPslES.

D1ekering with Unfortunate Farmera
Laying by . Winters Stock Of Hay.
Thus many return to the cities to their
actual habitations, which may have stood
idle the summer through. Numbers trail
along the highways until their farm homes
are reached, where, if they be rented = as
they usually are to some less thrifty hr-
ner, they have reserved few months
housing. Thousands wander into the
central south for all winter dickering and
trading there. Many return to their vii
lage homes, over or alongside mammoth
barns, where winter gypsy jockeying
b done. Great crowds of them, not yet
20 well along as their brethren in gain
hgs, straggle into the cities. In the COM
moner quarters these turn their hands to
bird training, basket weaving, training
and trading in valuable cats and dogs,
while hundreds of gypsy youths secure
ready employment under gentlemen's
grooms, and particularly at the care of
horses being fitted for the next years
events of the turf. Still others, and these
comprise the larger number, come troop.
ing into thousands Of little villages and
countryside places throughout the south
northern tier of southern states, arriving
- early as the last October days. The
movements Of these provide a genuine
gypsy study.
Their arrival is harlly noticed, as they
never come in large body, but in twos
and threes, and it il often weeks before
the little gypsy community is at its best.
The vanguard has quietly rented some
deserted roadside ian at the outskirts Of
the village, or some former spacious home
long gone TO decay. This is always got
for song. However much house room
itmay have, it must invariably possess the
requisite of great ramshackle barn and
outlying sheds. For little time the gyp-
sies seem to omerely exist here. But every
day their women folk may be seen miles
away, spinning in light buggies over the
sutumn roads in every direction. Not
only are they found on the well Travelled
highways, but every grass grown wagon
road leading to secluded and remotest
farms has been hunted and haunted. At
this home and that; there tarrying un-
der pretense of admiring some animal;
theps making a trihing purchase Of
vegetables and poultry; over yonder bar
tering for. but never buying, grain and
hay; again telling a fortune or two il
appealed to; but seldom urging such
profitable vocation-in little time these
eanniest and most indomitable of all hu-
man detectives have at their tongues
end, for home reference, every possible
item of information regarding the finan-
eial standing and condition of every
farmer for half a county round.
Then of sudden some Iuckless wight,
under terror of an overdue note or re.
ientless mortgage, has sold his cornfield
''in the shock to the gypsles. Another's
weather Drowned stacks of hay have
come into their possession. Then begins,
and to continue the whole winter through,
Q ceaseless procession of young stock.
horses and mules, toward the gypsies'
temporary domicile. Drunken farmer,
unfortunate farmer, thriftless farmer, in
al directions, pays the penalties Of i'll
doing or i'll luck to these superb jockeys,
who, buying for pittances. and for
months selling at excellent prices or not
ct all, at their improvised market, make
large profits; and the spring finds them
ready for greedy city buyers with great
numbers Of stock transformed from
shaggy, ambling beasts to animals Of
such splendid form and spirit as do even
. city gypsy trader's.eyes good to look
upon. The amount of live stock thus
gathered ~ every winter throughout the
country is tremendous; the profits are
inconceivably great, and these wizards
cf the stable must eventually largely con.
trol the entire horse trade of the country,
Edgar l.. Wakeman's Letter.